Poets from a Hundred Lawns is the new poetry group at the Dylan Thomas Birthplace which meets on the middle Wednesday of each month (next meetings 13th June/ 18th July 7.30pm). The group is a Stanza of The Poetry Society and carries on the tradition of Wednesday evening gatherings that the teenage Dylan started with his father’s encouragement back in the Roaring Twenties. Further information and contact details
Dylan aids World Book Night novel giveaway
40,000 copies of the book have been printed especially for World Book Night
The World Book Night comes to the birthplace of Dylan Thomas at 5 Cwmdonkin Drive, Uplands, Swansea on Saturday (5th March 2.00 – 8.00 pm) with 48 copies of the award winning novel Fingersmith by Welsh author Sarah Waters to be given away.
Anne Haden from Dylan Thomas House has organised the event and says “These are brand new books printed specially for World Book Night and we’re looking to give the books away to those who might not normally be able to get out and buy a book”.
“The books are absolutely free and part of the giveaway of one million books to encourage people to read and I chose Fingersmith as I read it when it was first published and enjoyed its great storyline and craftsmanship.
“This is a great opportunity as we all know someone who can’t get out easily, whose local library has closed or who can’t afford to buy a book.
“Nominating a person with us means they can come to the birthplace of Dylan Thomas, meet other people, receive their book and become one in a million.
“Maybe there is someone who hasn’t read a book for a while and this will rekindle their interest.
“We’re planning a follow up event in a month when we hope they will all come along, exchange their views and perhaps some of their favourite books.”
Anne Haden says that she thinks Dylan would have approved of the event “Dylan would have loved this – having a contemporary book for free and passing it on to others.”
The book is set in 19th century England and is the story of two orphans from very different backgrounds and was adapted for television by the Cardiff born writer Andrew Davies who is currently enjoying the limelight with his adaptation of South Riding. Andrew Davies also has a Dylan Thomas connection as he is on the judging panel of the Dylan Thomas Prize.
Because of the likely demand the books are available for collection on a first come, first served basis and need to be reserved by phone or email before the event.
Anne Haden 01792 472555 or info@5cwmdonkindrive.com
Poetry courses to follow in Dylan’s footsteps
A new weekly poetry and writing course based at 5 Cwmdonkin Drive – the birthplace and home of Dylan Thomas – aims to encourage new and aspiring writers to express themselves through their work.
The course “Poetry – to begin at the beginning” is the first in a series of ten week long courses being run by Anne and Geoff Haden of Dylan Thomas House in conjunction with the poet and writer Peter Thabit Jones who is an acknowledged expert on the work of Dylan Thomas and has lectured and taught all over the world.
The courses start on Thursday 23rd September (10.00am to 12.00) and for the first five participants to enrol there is a discounted course fee of £35 instead of the normal £75.
Says Mr Thabit Jones, “Many people want to write and don’t know where to start, so the aim of the course is to explore some aspects of writing and poetry and to help participants develop their own style.
“We want the course to be at the level of the participants who will be encouraged to develop their own work and to explore their own creativity.
“Not only will the course allow people to write in the house where Dylan produced over two thirds of his published output but we will also explore the local area including Cwmdonkin Park and the Uplands for further inspiration.”
Mr Jones is the founder of the international poetry magazine The Seventh Quarry and has recently completed the narration of a DVD Dylan Thomas Walking Tour of Greenwich Village, which he produced in collaboration with the late Aeronwy Thomas – Dylan’s daughter – on behalf of the Welsh Assembly Government in New York.
Anne Haden says “I’m really excited that Peter has agreed to run these courses as I know that there is a demand in Swansea from both the aspiring and the more experienced poets and writers.
“Poetry was once the province of the elite but Dylan showed that an ordinary guy can produce great work and, although we can’t bring Dylan back, we can create some of the environment that helped him be so prolific in his early years”.
“Later in the year we will be announcing a series of weekend courses in a number of different creative arts.
Peter Thabit Jones 01792 774070 or info@peterthabitjones.com
Anne Haden 01792 472555 or info@5cwmdonkindrive.com
Peter Thabit Jones leads a discussion at a poetry reading with members of The Seventh Quarry magazine
£5,000 Sony eReader Prize adds to Dylan Thomas Prize
The University of Wales Dylan Tghomas Prize has a new cateory with Sony’s £5,000 ($7,500) eReader Prize which is for an unpublished work by an author under 30. All entries have to be in ebook format and, for this year, only UK authors are eligible. If it is a success then it will be extended globally.
Cerys Matthews – the singer who rose to fame as the lead singer in Catatonia -has agreed to be one of the judges. She recorded part of the BBC2 programme My Life in Verse at Number 5
Check for further details on Dylan Thomas Prize website but hurry – entries close at the end of August
£40m Mumbles Pier redevelopment gives new hope for Dylan’s Mumbles
The latest announcement on plans for the Mumbles Pier redevelopment are out this weekend for public consultation.
The Bollom family who have owned the pier since before the war have long being trying to convince the local authority about their ambitious plans. (more…)
Once upon a time there were two ferries….
The news this week that the much heralded Swansea 
Ilfracombe ferry link is unlikely to get under way until next year is a bitter blow to tourism operators on both sides of the channel.
Mystery surrounds the announcement with the ferry company first blaming Swansea City Council for not providing suitable landing facilities (more…)
Dylan Thomas Birthplace / Family Home 5 Cwmdonkin Drive, Swansea, Wales, UK 